The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday delivered another blow to a 50-year-old anti-eavesdropping law in Illinois, choosing to let stand a lower court finding that key parts of the hotly debated law run counter to constitutional protections of free speech.

In that critical lower-court ruling in May, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the law – one of the toughest of its kind in the country – violates the First Amendment when used against those who record police officers doing their jobs in public.

Public recordings of public duties doesn't constitute "eavesdropping," IMO, which implies a fair expectation of privacy. I'm glad the court's basically seeing it that way. Far too many states allow criminalization of those who would "dare" to record their public activities (IL being among the most stringent) for posterity.

Now, if only such sanity can be applied to the 2A and its mild evisceration in state after state. If only.

December 1st, 2012, 05:54 PM

Landric

The is absolutely the right ruling. I've been a cop for sixteen years and I don't care at all if someone records me. In fact, I expect someone is always recording, and therefore I don't do anything stupid. So long as whoever is recording doesn't interfere (physically) with me doing my job, record away.

December 2nd, 2012, 12:27 AM

kb2wji

Works for me too. Recordings have only gotten me out of trouble. My car has multiple cameras and mics, and i welcome them all. If someone wants to record me, I could not care less. They will probably just be disappointed when I dont turn them into YouTube superstars ... :wink:

December 2nd, 2012, 12:48 AM

Jgriner

the only problem is lots of people love to run up behind cops while they are busy, with camera phones in hand. they need to have some space to handle what every they are doing without worrying about the guy standing behind them.

December 2nd, 2012, 01:09 AM

Crowman

Now how will this information be disseminated to all law enforcement personnel in America so civilians will not be subject to possible unwarranted arrest/abuse/illegal seizure by law enforcement for exercising their rights........

December 2nd, 2012, 04:03 AM

suntzu

I want to here the LEO's here take on this

OK LEO's out there. What do you think of the ruling?

December 2nd, 2012, 05:54 AM

pscipio03

My one and only one problem with this is mass media and their willingness to always make LEO look like the bad guy. White cop talking with (insert any race) and be BG takes a swing at the officer. Officer responds with marched force, but all Channel 7 shows is the last part, not where the guy tried to strike the officer.

December 2nd, 2012, 05:55 AM

pscipio03

Matched force, not marched. Although cadence while apprehending would be cool...

December 2nd, 2012, 07:15 AM

HotGuns

I'm recording you...so if you want to record me, I dont care.

Turn abouts fair play.

As for the recordings...its funny how people remember things. They'll swear up and down that it was this way and that way and they dont remember saying this or that.
I've seen them watch a recording of themself and say out loud..."I didnt say that"..you guys made that up.

Really? You think we spent that much time on you? :rofl:
Not only are you delusional, but you are a liar and the tape proves it.

I think that its a step in the right direction.
Now if the state of Illinois would get their firearms laws in line with the rest of the country, it would even be better.

December 2nd, 2012, 07:16 AM

J_B

Sword cuts both ways - Police can record you, and YOU CAN RECORD THEM TOO!

I was taught in the academy to conduct yourself as if a camera is on you at all times.

I have even recorded in public. At calls for service etc. Even at the termination of a pretty hairy pursuit.

I never once had the notion or even thought that it was illegal. And really never cared.

I will share a story from a call I was on. I know I know. Come on pig.....:)

Drunk guy in parking lot of local Walgreen's type place.

Two of us dispatched but "super cop" shows up too.

You know the type. "I'm a bad *** and I'm a cop so don't F with me."

We all hate him by the way.

Ok moving on. We get there. Drunk guy gets a bit froggy and wants to have it out.

We wrestle with him and once done cuffing him, "super cop" notices a female standing on the sidewalk in front of the business holding her phone up recording us.

He flips and starts yelling at her about recording us. Walks up to her arguing with her etc.

She stops and leaves and promptly calls to complain.

"Super cop" gets called in and butt chewed. At least that's all I know.

Come to find out. She was recording.us because she thought it was remarkable that we didn't put drunk guy in hospital for the the punches thrown at us etc.

She "was" pro-LEO but said after that it tainted her a bit. She only wanted to film it and say what a great job we did until "super cop" got in her face.

Thankfully he's moved on and we pretty much ignore anything he has to say.

December 2nd, 2012, 07:53 AM

suntzu

Quote:

Originally Posted by pscipio03

My one and only one problem with this is mass media and their willingness to always make LEO look like the bad guy. White cop talking with (insert any race) and be BG takes a swing at the officer. Officer responds with marched force, but all Channel 7 shows is the last part, not where the guy tried to strike the officer.

I disagree. Most of the incidents I have seen show the whole thing whether it be on the news or Youtube.

December 2nd, 2012, 09:14 AM

oneshot

:congrats::congrats::congrats::smile:

Common sense prevailing.
Hopefully this mentality will endure.

December 2nd, 2012, 09:52 AM

Hopyard

I thought that the State of Maryland had specifically outlawed filming cops working. Is that thought correct, anyone know?
If correct, does this SC ruling invalidate Maryland's law or only what happens in the circuit that hears IL cases?

December 2nd, 2012, 10:04 AM

SIGguy229

Quote:

Originally Posted by suntzu

I disagree. Most of the incidents I have seen show the whole thing whether it be on the news or Youtube.

...except the whole Rodney King episode...10-15 secs out of a 20 min pursuit & engagement...